NHL Panthers President of Hockey Operations Dale Tallon has added the role of GM to his title, while Tom Rowe is "out" as GM and interim coach, according to Craig Davis of the South Florida SUN-SENTINEL. Rowe will "remain with the organization as special advisor to Tallon." Tallon previously served as Panthers GM from May '10 through May '16. The Panthers missed the playoffs this season (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 4/11). Davis notes Panthers Assistant GMs Steve Werier and Eric Joyce "will continue" in their roles. Tallon said, "It’s still a collaborative effort, but they’ve got to come through me." Meanwhile, Panthers President & CEO Matt Caldwell said that the franchise is "on the upswing," with ticket revenue showing a 20% gain this season "despite flat attendance, and corporate sponsorships growing" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 4/11).
CHAIN OF COMMAND: In Miami, George Richards writes for an organization with "such strong ties to the military," the Panthers "spent the past year or so answering questions as to who, exactly, was in charge of their hockey team." Caldwell: "You would think we’d get chain of command straight." The Panthers yesterday "tried to make it as clear as they could" that Tallon is "running things again." Caldwell "stresses that Tallon wasn’t 'pushed aside' as has been widely reported" since he was moved up to President of Hockey Operations after the end of last season. As for the team's newest coaching search, Tallon said that he "hoped to have a new hire in place before the June draft and that the Panthers have 'a list of young coaches that we’re interested in and we’re going to go in that direction'" (MIAMI HERALD, 4/11). YAHOO SPORTS' Greg Wyshynski wrote in the case of the Panthers, "nothing brings warring factions together like a terrible reversal of fortunes" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/10). In West Palm Beach, Hal Habib writes the "new sheriff" of the Panthers is the "old sheriff, and it’s not taking him long to lay down the law." Ten times during Tallon's re-introductory news conference yesterday he "referred to the need for an organization headed in the wrong direction to have 'one voice' if it’s going to reverse course." The agenda was "wrapped around honesty" after the team missed the playoffs. The product on ice this season "wasn’t functioning, but neither was the operation off the ice" (PALM BEACH POST, 4/11).
SEASON TO FORGET: In Ft. Lauderdale, Dave Hyde writes the Panthers would "rather forget" how this season ended. Hyde: "Mistakes were made. Big mistakes." The team "lost a year when they could have taken the stage for a while in South Florida." As it is, hockey "remains the same afterthought sport here that it’s been" since the late-'90s, its attendance "flat and TV ratings non-existent." Everything will "remain that way, too, until they put a consistent winner on the ice." However, it was "good" that Caldwell "admitted to those mistakes." The same goes for Panthers Owner & Chair Vinnie Viola and Vice Chair Doug Cifu for "putting Tallon back in charge." Hyde: "This was all a start to the way back" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 4/11).
